The reigning Golden Boot winner was hurt during the New Zealand Warriors’ clash with the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday and will definitely miss the rest of the NRL season.
Johnson had just gone over the line to score a second try of the game, but he stayed on the ground in obvious agony and replays showed his ankle getting caught under a would-be tackler and bending out of shape.
Coach Andrew McFadden confirmed after the game via his club’s Twitter account that Johnson’s injury was “season ending”, while the problem remains undiagnosed.
Johnson was set for a first return to English soil since breaking home hearts with a last-gasp try in the 2013 World Cup semi-final between the sides at Wembley.
He continued that stellar form into 2014 and, after inspiring the Kiwis to the Four Nations title, beat off the likes of Sam Burgess to win the prestigious Golden Boot award for the world’s best player.
The three-match series between England and New Zealand begins at the KC Stadium in Hull on November 1 with the other two games taking place at the Olympic Stadium in London (November 7) and Wigan’s DW Stadium (November 14).
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